Health News 07/2018

A significant decrease in overdose death rates this year in Armstrong County caught the attention of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, who recently conducted a heroin and opioid epidemic round table in this borough. Toomey met with the county's board of ...(Jul 1, 2018, Miami Herald)

“The Dancing Doctor” has agreed to give up her medical license for at least two and a half years, according to an agreement filed Friday with the Georgia Composite Medical Board. The consent order signed by Windell Boutte, a board-certified ...(Jul 1, 2018, FOX40)

Siblings diagnosed with brain tumors within weeks of each other

LONG BEACH, CA (KTLA/CNN) – Oncologists say they have never seen siblings who have been diagnosed with brain tumors so close to each other, following the diagnoses of a California brother and sister. In a matter of weeks, life turned upside down for ...(Jul 1, 2018, KFDA)

Polio virus treatment battles brain tumors, study shows

A genetically modified polio virus improved the longer-term survival of patients with a lethal type of brain tumor, according to the results of an early-stage clinical trial published Tuesday. Twenty-one percent of the patients treated with the virus ...(Jul 1, 2018, Foster's Daily Democrat)

$1.7M in fentanyl from China detected by drug-sniffing dog at Philadelphia port

A routine inspection at a Philadelphia port last week resulted in the confiscation of $1.7 million worth of the dangerous opioid fentanyl, which had been shipped from China, federal authorities said. A drug-sniffing dog detected the fentanyl inside ...(Jul 1, 2018, Fox News)

India Beat One Of The World's Deadliest Viruses — And Made A Music Video About It

The Nipah virus scare that shook India in May had all ingredients of an-edge-of-the-seat medical thriller like Outbreak: A country of 1.3 billion people and an encounter with one of the most lethal pathogens of our times. But in the end the deadly ...(Jul 1, 2018, NPR)

Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak over, Understanding the outbreak

The FDA, the CDC, and Arizona state officials continue to analyze samples from the Yuma region collected in early June and initial results are starting to become available. Several environmental samples of canal water in the area have been found to ...(Jul 1, 2018, Outbreak News Today)

Air pollution linked to 3.2 million new diabetes cases in one year

(CNN) - Levels of air pollution well below what is considered safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization are causing an increased risk of diabetes worldwide, according to a study published Friday in the journal ...(Jul 1, 2018, NBC2 News)

Calif. parents spread awareness about genetics as kids get same brain cancer diagnosis

A brother and sister received the same cancer diagnosis within a week. Their parents want to let the public know about their children because the cause is thought to be genetic. Life before Memorial Day weekend was simple for 6-year-old Kalea, a ...(Jul 1, 2018, WLS-TV)

Minnesota DNR blames illegal goldfish release for dead carp

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota conservation officials are blaming the illegal introduction of nonnative ornamental goldfish for large numbers of dead carp washing up on a lakeshore south of the Minneapolis area. The Minnesota Department of Natural ...(Jul 1, 2018, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

CDC: Romaine lettuce safe to eat

(KBJR) - Good news for salad lovers, romaine lettuce is once again safe to eat. The nation just experienced one its most deadly E. coli outbreaks, which was linked to romaine. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says all the tainted ...(Jul 1, 2018, WQOW TV News 18)

Opioid epidemic: New laws restricting prescriptions go into effect in three states

Beginning July 1, new laws aimed at limiting the supply of prescription opioids will go into effect in Florida, Michigan and Tennessee. Loading… Post to Facebook. Opioid epidemic: New laws restricting prescriptions go into effect in three states ...(Jul 1, 2018, AZCentral.com)

The strain of E. coli bacteria that contaminated romaine lettuce and was tied to the deaths of five people was found in a tainted irrigation canal in Arizona, federal officials said Thursday. The outbreak appeared to be over, more than three months ...(Jul 1, 2018, SFGate)

Emergency Rooms Run Out of Vital Drugs, and Patients Are Feeling It

Summer is “trauma season,” when emergency rooms see a rise in injuries, but a drug supply crisis has doctors scrambling to find alternatives to needed medications. Image. Edwin Alsina, in the bed, arrived at Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago with ...(Jul 1, 2018, New York Times)

Artificial ovary could help young cancer patients preserve fertility

(CNN) An artificial ovary -- the female sex organ that produces eggs -- may soon be achievable, say Danish researchers who have engineered a "scaffold" on which early-stage cells can develop into functional ovarian follicles, the small fluid-filled ...(Jul 1, 2018, CNN)

Drug-Sniffing Fido Finds $1.7 Million In Fentanyl From China At Philadelphia Port

The old adage says that a dog is a man's (or woman's) best friend. Well, that is certainly the case when its human happens to work for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and their job is to find drugs trying to enter the country illegally. That's what ...(Jul 1, 2018, The Inquisitr)

Video of mom seeing baby hear for first time goes viral

The video of a Texas mom's reaction when her 1-year-old daughter hears a sound for the first time went viral over the weekend. Anna Esler, the mother of Ayla, could be seen holding the child on her lap at the Cook Children's Ear, Nose and Throat ...(Jul 2, 2018, Fox News)

Flu Likely Passed to Fair Visitor From Pig, Officials Say

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Officials say a visitor at an Indiana county fair caught the flu from an animal, probably a pig. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it's the first human case of the H3N2 flu in Indiana since 2013 and the first in ...(Jul 2, 2018, U.S. News & World Report)

Hookah at Home

In Your Health Minute,. Some kids are smoking a hookah at home instead of going to a hookah bar. Hookah is a tobacco water pipe. Some doctors say it's just as dangerous as cigarette smoking. In a study of more than 20-thousand teens CDC researchers ...(Jul 2, 2018, WLTZ 38 NBC)

A Baby Was Treated With A Nap And A Bottle Of Formula. The Bill Was $18000.

This article first appeared July 02, 2018 on Kaiser Health News. By Jenny Gold and Sarah Kliff, Vox. On the first morning of Jang Yeo Im's vacation to San Francisco in 2016, her 8-month-old son, Park Jeong Whan, fell off the bed in the family's hotel ...(Jul 2, 2018, HealthLeaders Media)

In 2015, Hayden Hatfield was studying at Auburn University in Alabama. Be The Match, a national registry of volunteer bone marrow donors, had set up on her campus. She decided to register, knowing there was a small chance she would end up being a ...(Jul 2, 2018, WCVB Boston)

Massachusetts school allowed to continue electric shock therapy on special needs children

By Denise Powell, M.D. Candidate. (BOSTON) — A Massachusetts school for special needs children can continue to use a form of electric shock therapy on students after a long-running battle with state officials over the controversial treatment was ...(Jul 2, 2018, Sand Hills Express)

Survey: You're probably washing your hands all wrong

(CNN) -- Hand-washing seems pretty simple, but a recent study shows that 97% of the time, we're still doing it wrong -- which can lead to contamination of food and surfaces and result in foodborne illness. The study from the US Department of ...(Jul 2, 2018, WTVY, Dothan)

An Alabama couple tied the knot last month under the watchful eye of their 3-year-old flower girl, who received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from the bride to help her battle a rare type of leukemia. Hayden and Adrian6. Hayden presented Skye ...(Jul 2, 2018, Fox News)

Coffee is good for you, more science shows

People who drank coffee, no matter how much or what kind they drank, were less likely to die over a 10-year period than non-coffee drinkers, according to a new report. by Maggie Fox / Jul.02.2018 / 4:58 PM ET. Image: Pouring hot coffee. Pouring hot ...(Jul 2, 2018, NBCNews.com)

The possibility of using brain stimulation to help prevent future violence just passed a proof of concept stage, according to new research published Monday in the Journal of Neuroscience. In a double-blind, randomized controlled study, a group of ...(Jul 2, 2018, Washington Post)

State health officials are investigating 56 cases of illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite since the beginning of May. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is working with local health departments around the state, and other state ...(Jul 2, 2018, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

Weld County Dealing With 'Largest Rabies Exposure Case'

WELD COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) – Health officials in Weld County say 21 people were exposed to rabies — making it the largest rabies exposure case for that county, according to officials. A woman found a baby raccoon and took it to her home after it was ...(Jul 2, 2018, CBS Denver)

Upward of 500 people might have been exposed to the measles after someone with the virus entered a Gresham child care center, Multnomah County health officials said Monday. The measles infection was confirmed Wednesday after an emergency room ...(Jul 2, 2018, OregonLive.com)

Border Patrol K-9 Sniffs Out Nearly $2 Million In Fentanyl Shipped From China

Authorities at a customs port in Pennsylvania recently seized nearly $2 million worth of fentanyl smuggled through the mail from China. Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uncovered the shipment Friday during an examination of a ...(Jul 2, 2018, The Daily Caller)

You Have to See the Viral Video of a Mom Watching Her Baby Hear for the First Time

Get ready for a good cry, because this may be the most heartwarming video you'll see all week. In the clip, 1-year-old Ayla Esler is sitting on the lap of her mom, Anna. Ayla was born deaf, but she has just been fitted with cochlear implants, which ...(Jul 2, 2018, Health.com)

A 3-year-old cancer survivor served as a flower girl in her bone marrow donor's wedding

(CNN) Last month, Skye Savren-McCormick got to be the flower girl in a wedding. To prepare, she practiced walking with a little basket in her living room. Even so, on the day of the wedding the 3-year-old still took a big fistful of petals and dropped ...(Jul 2, 2018, CNN)

Hard-working women, go home earlier to avoid this disease

(CNN) Here's a good reason for women to work less, ask for a raise or get their partners to pick up around the house more: If women work fewer hours, it'll lower their risk of diabetes, according to a study published Monday in the journal BMJ Open ...(Jul 2, 2018, CNN)

Measles case confirmed in Portland, about 500 people possibly exposed

PORTLAND, Ore. – Multnomah County officials say approximately 500 people were exposed to a confirmed case of measles in the Portland area Wednesday. Of those 500 people, the Multnomah County Health Department Communicable Disease Services ...(Jul 2, 2018, Fox 28)

Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Scare Ends, Farmers Try To Restore Trust

YUMA, AZ — Romaine lettuce growers have a daunting challenge ahead: rebuilding consumer confidence in a product linked to a strain of E. coli bacteria that sickened more than 200 people in 36 states and led to massive recalls. Nearly half of those who ...(Jul 3, 2018, Patch.com)

Why don't we know more about migraines?

The first time I experienced a migraine was one evening after school. A dull headache turned into splitting pain, blurring my vision and converting my bedroom light into a source of pure agony. Then came the vomiting. It's a cycle I've experienced ...(Jul 3, 2018, BBC News)

Last month, Skye Savren-McCormick got to be the flower girl in a wedding. To prepare, she practiced walking with a little basket in her living room. Even so, on the day of the wedding the 3-year-old still took a big fistful of petals and dropped them ...(Jul 3, 2018, fox6now.com)

Fresh grounds for coffee: Study shows it may boost longevity

CHICAGO — Go ahead and have that cup of coffee, maybe even several more. New research shows it may boost chances for a longer life, even for those who down at least eight cups daily. In a study of nearly half-a-million British adults, coffee drinkers ...(Jul 3, 2018, Washington Post)

Texas officials report dozens sick from parasitic infections

Texas officials warned the public Monday about a seasonal increase in infections from Cyclospora parasites, reporting there have been 56 confirmed cases since the beginning of May. Neither this week's outbreak notice nor a June 21 health advisory from ...(Jul 3, 2018, Food Safety News)

Brain stimulation could zap out violent and criminal thoughts, according to new research

A lot of how the brain controls our impulses remains a mystery. But there are some areas, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which have been linked to antisocial behaviour. Scientists have shown stimulating this area to boost its activity ...(Jul 3, 2018, Business Insider)

Ask the expert: With Lyme disease on the rise, here's how you can protect yourself

The spread of illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites more than tripled from 2004 to 2016 in what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called an increasing public health risk. While new diseases such as Zika have popped up in recent ...(Jul 3, 2018, Baltimore Sun)

Drug to block weapon used by cancer cells

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a drug that can disarm cancer cells, allowing the body to use its own defenses against the deadly disease. “Cancer immunotherapy is considered to be the next big thing in treating cancer, but ...(Jul 3, 2018, Boston Herald)

Jury orders DMC to pay former patient $135 million after paralysis

A Wayne County jury has awarded $135 million to the plaintiff in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against the Detroit Medical Center Children's Hospital of Michigan, according to Southfield-based Fieger Law. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2013 ...(Jul 3, 2018, MLive.com)

You Are Washing Your Hands All Wrong, Study Finds

By Melissa Gray, CNN. (CNN) – Hand-washing seems pretty simple, but a recent study shows that 97% of the time, we're still doing it wrong — which can lead to contamination of food and surfaces and result in foodborne illness. The study from the US ...(Jul 3, 2018, CBS Boston)

Bats with rabies on the rise in Michigan, health officials say

State health officials have found nearly two and a half times as many rabid bats this year as in 2017, and are urging families to take precautions for themselves and their pets. Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that is transmitted through the bite ...(Jul 3, 2018, Detroit Free Press)

Funeral services set for Larry Cotlar

Funeral services have been set for the man who died in flood waters Saturday night. Advertisement. Popular sportscaster Larry Cotlar was swept away Saturday night. Many people across Iowa will be remembering him this week. His funeral service will be ...(Jul 3, 2018, KCCI Des Moines)

Another study shows coffee may boost longevity — even decaf

Go ahead and have that cup of coffee, maybe even several more. New research shows it may boost chances for a longer life, even for those who down at least eight cups daily. In a study of nearly half-a-million British adults, coffee drinkers had a ...(Jul 3, 2018, Chicago Tribune)

A Woman Lost Her Toenails After a Fish Pedicure

An unorthodox beauty treatment meant to rejuvenate the feet turned into a disturbing medical mystery for one young woman. According to a case report published by her doctor in JAMA Dermatology, the woman's toenails stopped growing and started falling ...(Jul 3, 2018, Gizmodo)

Patient paralyzed in botched scoliosis surgery gets $135M

A Michigan jury has sided with a 17-year-old patient after her surgeon botched a corrective spinal surgery eight years ago and left her partially paralyzed. Faith DeGrand, of Wyandotte, underwent the surgery when she was 10 years old at Detroit Medical ...(Jul 3, 2018, Fox News)

For Women Over 30, There May Be A Better Choice Than The Pap Smear

For most women under 65, a visit to the gynecologist often includes an unpleasant necessity: a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer risk. The test involves letting a doctor or nurse scrape cells from the back of the cervix, which are visually ...(Jul 3, 2018, NPR)